The library is pleased to offer the Freegal music download service. Click here to access the free music downloads. You will need your library card number and PIN. Patrons may download up to (3) songs per week. They never expire and are DRM-free!

When Cameron is admitted to the hospital following his diagnosis of Mad Cow Disease, things start to get really weird for him. With the help of his roommate, Gonzo (a neurotic, asthmatic dwarf), they escape for Cameron’s final road trip. The comedy becomes more absurd as the miles click by, with the pair picking up an ancient Norse god (cursed to appear as a lawn gnome), staying with a smoothie-loving cult at the Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack ‘N’ Bowl, and falling in love with an angel on the way to Disney World. Going Bovine won the 2010 Printz medal for excellence in teen literature.

Emily Maxwell, is an 80 year old widow who is dealing with the emotional and physical issues of growing old and, “being alone.” Although the story consists primarily of Emily’s daily routine, the story is much more than that. As Emily reflects about her life with her husband, children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors and even her beloved aging dog Rufus, the reader is reminded how regrets, setbacks and hopes of an ordinary life are a part of everyone’s life. There are moments of humor and sadness throughout the book. The story begins with Emily and her sister-in-law Arlene driving to the Eat ‘n Park’s two-for-one breakfast buffet, a weekly tradition. After Arlene suffers a stroke at the buffet, Emily begins to become more independent but at the same time realizes that she needs to rely on others more and more. Emily, with her quirks and habits, may be someone you will recognize, a friend, an aunt, neighbor or even yourself. If you like books that are plot driven, this is not the book for you. If you liked books that are character-driven, I think you would enjoy this book. I give it five stars.

200 years of history of the small, rural town of Blackwell, Massachsetts, begins with the arrival of the first settlers and moves forward in linked stories following a wide range of characters. The red garden, a small plot of land that eventually takes on the air of the sacred becomes a connecting element for the town history along with the women who play a role in the growth and change of the town. Beautifully written with an ethereal realism – a novel that bridges both history and human connections beautifully.